No plan to shut hospitals in Essex success regime

No plans to close a hospital but downgrading of specialised and A&E units not ruled out

System leaders set out six areas the Essex Success Regime will focus on

Trusts to look at closer working and developing a more flexible workforce

No hospitals will be closed across mid and south Essex as a result of the success regime, one of the system’s leaders has said.

The downgrading of accident and emergency departments and other closures have not been ruled out though, as system leaders look to address a health economy deemed “not sustainable”.

southend hospital

Southend University Hospital is one of the trusts in the success regime

NHS England’s Essex area director Andrew Pike, coordinator of the Essex success regime, said there were “no plans to close a hospital” but “all possibilities for change [were] being investigated” in regards to the reorganisation of A&E departments in the area.

Mr Pike’s comments follow the three organisations overseeing the regime, NHS England, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority, publishing a “progress update” on work done so far.

The report suggested a potentially substantial reconfiguration of specialised services was also under consideration, as well as plans for the “development of a flexible workforce”.

The report said: “The market town nature of the county has resulted in five relatively small hospitals, where in other areas a similar sized population might be served by one or two hospitals.

“Care in Essex currently costs more than the money available. This is not sustainable.”

The three acute providers are Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Southend University Hospital FT and Mid Essex Hospital Services Trust.

The report cites six focus areas including reducing the clinical and financial disadvantages for local hospitals.

The six priorities for the Essex success regime

Reduce the clinical and financial disadvantages for our local hospitals

Accelerate plans for changes in urgent and emergency care

Joined up services in primary, community and social care

Simplify commissioning, reduce workload and duplication

Development of a flexible workforce

More data and sharing

It said the three acute providers were looking at much closer working and “will look in greater depth at where resources could be shared, for example in back office functions and clinical support… Clinicians are also looking at ways of sharing specialist services”.

It also said it wanted to reduce the number of contracts across the county. “There are over 300 contracts between the seven CCGs in Essex, three local authorities and various service providers. This takes up management resources and can slow the pace of change where multiple stakeholders are involved in decisions,” it said.